Susceptible to Light: Poetry by Chelan Harkin

by Chelan Harkin

Susceptible to Light, by Chelan Harkin, is a collection of poetry that is mystical and ecstatic in nature--mystical defined as anything having to do with opening the heart to light and ecstatic having to do with anything expressed from this place. Susceptible to Light is here to remind you of your joy, to assist you in reconsidering ways of relating to your life that better serve and open your heart, to deconstruct anything about God that doesn’t feel close, intimate, authentic, and warm, and to remind your soul to break the surface and take a breath. Rumi says, “What was said to the rose that made it open was said to me here in my chest.” (Barks, Rumi the Book of Love, 2003) May this collection help you feel a taste of that sweet openness. Hafiz says, “God and I have become like two giant fat people living in a tiny boat. We keep bumping into each other and laughing." (Ladinsky, The Gift, 1999, p. 199) May this collection help you feel the possibility of that kind of laughter.

Genres: Poetry, Spirituality

203 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2020

Reviews

[Steve Gillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Chelan Harkin’s poems when a writer whose book I admire re-posted, on Facebook, Chelan’s poem, “The Worst Thing,” which begins “The worst thing we ever did was put God in the sky out of reach” and ends “The worst thing we ever did is pretend God isn’t the easiest thing in this universe, available to every soul in every breath.”

I was stunned. I hadn’t read anything like that, ever. Maybe the closest poets would be Hafiz or Rumi, but her voice is one-of-a-kind, and I can’t hear enough of it. I bought her book immediately, started following her on Facebook, and I’m reading “Susceptible To Light” for the second time and when I finish I’ll start back through it.

These aren’t just poems, they’re visions. I am waiting, impatiently, for her next book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these ecstatic love poems to God, very much a modern poet in the mystic tradition of Rumi.

[Jessica Kassise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at random from a local bookstore in Hood River, Oregon while on a trip to the Columbia River Gorge for my 30th birthday. I had been reading Mary Oliver in the foggy mornings with coffee (a practice I’m recreating this year), saw this book, opened it to a random page and decided to bring it home with me. I did not open it back up until nearly 3 years later.

These poems are enthusiastic prayers to a wild, loving divinity. I found myself wanting a little more variety to the poems at times. The back paragraph notes the author wrote each poem in under two minutes, basically finished products without editing. If that’s not divine inspiration i don’t know what is.

[Rhonda Wiley-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, spirited, unconventional, contemporary poetry. The kind that sticks with you. The poems are written as if the author is speaking about God. I have several book marks to find my way back into the book quickly. This was a gift from my best friend and delight to read. I look forward to reading more of Chelan Harkin's poetry.

[Mary Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Rumi and Hafiz and Rilke, Harkin is one of the rare poets whose words let you FEEL God. In this case, she lets us feel the part of God that imparts piercing wisdom through humor and relatability. And that precious part is both wildly inspiring and deeply healing.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, expansive, mind-blowing, consciousness-expanding poetry from a gifted muse. Her god in these poems is mostly female, celebratory, dancing, singing, accordion, non-judgmental unlimited by boundaries and labels and the narrow-mindedness of men who are convinced that god resides in a heaven among the stars. This goddess is as earthbound as she is celestial, as community minded as she is private and personal. One need only to read one poem from this collection, “Worst Thing” to see the light. “The worst thing we ever did was to put god in sky, out of reach…” Chelan writes, the planetary poem around which all the other poems orbit. Transcendent and beautiful, her poems defy the mundaneness we humans blindly seek in the world when we exchange true seeing and feeling for dogma. To read her poems is to be set free, to remember what we have forgotten in our DNA, to find our place in the world. It is to remember that we are more than just meat skeletons harboring a trapped spirit, but rather spirit-driven bone carriages winging our way through worlds across galaxies more vast than we could ever imagine.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting morsels of solid food

It’s rare to read a book with a smile on your face for 200 pages. Harkin’s work reminds me of the work of her older brothers, Hafiz and Rumi, whose mischievous writings of 900 years ago still resonate with readers today. Simply a beautiful collection of short poems evoking what is lightest and best in us and making space for everything else as well.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually into poetry. Even when I do enjoy poetry, it's still work, like I'm in English class. My cousin's husband showed me this book and I couldn't put it down. I didn't enjoy every poem, but I've never fallen into poetry like that before like I do with my favorite prose.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly stunning collection of mystical, and yet down to earth, often funny, poems. I adore it completely. Gritty and transcendent. I can't imagine how Chelan Harkin achieved such a thing, but she did.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The worst thing we ever did is pretend God isn’t the easiest thing in this universe, available to every soul in every breath."

Generally I would say I am not into poetry, but Chelan Harkin's poems make my heart sing. I adore it completely.

[Ella Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful read. I have found myself returning to it often even after having finished it. I have shared so many of the thoughts included with friends who have all benefitted from the insight, beauty, and wisdom shared.

[Chavaleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have to be a poet her equal to describe the raw and glorious beauty of this book. I'm not. Please just read it. Transformational. (Quotes coming to sermons near you for years and years, I suspect!)

[Bonnie Westmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this beautiful book at St. Placid Priory, in the “new books” pile. Her words and descriptions of God are affirming and loving. I agree with her poetry, that prayer can take place in many forms, and God wants us to feel good about ourselves and to be joy filled. Her words enable me to accept all of myself and to see God in the birds and beauty surrounding me each day.

[Prema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound whimsical verse. Perfect companion to my morning cup of tea. The poems enchant me into recasting my relationship to and understanding of the the divine, the universe and myself..

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Chelan's writing. So heartful and honest, sometimes raw, year always hopeful.

[Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right book at the right time? Maybe. I'm just grateful that it crossed my muddled path.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few of these poems spoke to me with that “I needed to hear those words right now” kind of magic.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful!

This was a beautiful and enjoyable poetry book by Chelan Harkin. Overall, it was well written and contained poignant pieces.

[Alie B. Gorrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly in awe after finishing this book. Chelan’s poetry continues to fill me with wonder, deep contemplation, comfort, and a more expansive view of God. I cannot recommend her poetry enough!

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Mystery Appears

This is just simply beautiful! It speaks toThat beyond the words! Thank you for the reminder of our fathom out Being.